“Music Saves Lives” Promotes Blood Donation

ELIZABETH—Music Saves Lives and the Vans Warped Tour is partnering with NJ Blood Services (NJBS) in reaching out to high school and college students to educate and encourage blood donations, and bone marrow donor matching, during a time when supplies in area hospitals are dangerously low.
On Saturday, July 19, from 2 to 7:30 p.m., donate blood at Jersey Gardens Outlet Mall, 651 Kapkowski Road in Elizabeth and receive a download card with music by the bands that are a part of the tour. Although donors will need to purchase their own tickets to the concerts, each person donating blood will also receive a VIP pass that provides special access to backstage areas.

“Traditionally during the summer months, blood donations drop due to high school and colleges closing and regular community drives being postponed until the fall due to vacations,” said NJBS Executive Director Church Grossenbacher. “By the end of the summer, area hospitals usually experience critical blood shortages. Hopefully, the Music Saves Lives blood drives will create awareness and increase donations.”

NJ Blood Services, which supplies blood products and services to 60 hospitals across the state, is urging all eligible persons to donate. Donors must be in generally good health, 17 years of age and weigh 110 pounds. Blood donors should drink plenty of water and eat regular meals prior to donating. Persons with tattoos or piercing are eligible to donate provided they were done in a licensed NJ shop, or are more than a year old.

Blood donors must know their Social Security number and present a photo or signed ID. Those younger than 17 years of age may have someone donate on their behalf to receive the CD and VIP pass.